Gulenist Turkey trips of members of Congress
or Congressional staff
March 19, 2011 last updated June 21, 2011
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Summary
- based on information from Legistorm website, accessed June 20, 2011
- search covered period 01/01/2000 - 06/20/2011
| Sponsor of Congressional Travel | Total value | # Trips | # Dem | # Rep |
| Council of Turkic American Associations | $26,660 | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| Institute of Interfaith Dialog for World Peace | $26,160 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Istanbul Center | $5,171 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Maryland Institute for Dialogue | $20,995 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations (MAFTAA) | $35,513 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| Pacifica Institute | $16,840 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Rumi Forum for Interfaith Dialogue | $76,390 | 24 | 10 | 14 |
| Turkish American Federation of Midwest | $46,718 | 17 | 15 | 2 |
| Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) | $30,682 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| Turkish Cultural Center New York | $29,990 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians | $67,378 | 19 | 4 | 15 |
| Total | $382,497 | 128 | 71 | 56 |
Here are details for each sponsor:
Institute of Interfaith Dialog for World Peace
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Carter, Rep. John | Rep | TX | Alsup, Christopher William (Chris) | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Carter, Rep. John | Rep | TX | Stalnaker, Ryan D. | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Conaway, Rep. Mike | Rep | TX | Balzano, Paul N. | 08/07/09-08/20/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Conaway, Rep. Mike | Rep | TX | Graves, Scott C. | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Hall, Rep. Ralph | Rep | TX | Schell, Christopher R. (Chris) | 08/07/09-08/21/09 | $2,250.00 |
| Heinrich, Rep. Martin | Dem | NM | Samp, Anthony Pasquale (Tony) | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Johnson, Rep. Sam | Rep | TX | Williams, Mark Ramon | 08/08/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Johnson, Rep. Sam | Rep | TX | Ray, Lindsey | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,670.00 |
| Oberstar, Rep. Jim | Dem | MN | Cronin, Mary C. | 08/22/09-08/30/09 | $2,480.00 |
| Roskam, Rep. Peter | Rep | IL | Johnson, Brigitta A. | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
Maryland Institute for Dialog
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Brady, Rep. Bob | Dem | PA | Barcliff, Nicole E. | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Baird, Rep. Brian | Dem | WA | Austin, Lisa Ann td> | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Cohen, Rep. Steve | Dem | TN | Cooks, Shirley W. | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,745.00 |
| Campbell, Rep. John Bayard Taylor | Rep | CA | Kaplan, Caitlin Horton | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Baldwin, Rep. Tammy Green | Dem | TWi | Murat, William M. (Bill) | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,725.00 |
| Foxx, Rep. Virginia | Rep | NC | Poole, William Todd (Todd) | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Whitfield, Rep. Ed | Rep | KY | Robertson, James E. | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,775.00 |
| Bachus, Rep. Spencer | Rep | AL | Staley, Michael Christopher | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations - MAFTAA
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Butterfield, Rep. G.K. | Dem | NC | Lilley, Laurence E. (Lee) | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Chandler, Rep. Ben | Dem | KY | Krimm, Jennifer | 04/22/11-04/28/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Connolly, Rep. Gerry | Dem | VA | Walkinshaw, James R. | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Critz, Rep. Mark | Dem | PA | Mazonkey, Matthew Stephen (Matt) | 11/05/10-11/12/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Hagan, Sen. Kay | Dem | NC | Peña, Roger J. | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,159.00 |
| Kissell, Rep. Larry | Dem | NC | Pfister, Zachary S. (Zach) | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| McIntyre, Rep. Mike | Dem | NC | Helms, Kaitlin | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Moran, Rep. Jim | Dem | VA | Durrer, Austin John | 11/05/10-11/12/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Moran, Rep. Jim | Dem | VA | Garofalo, Thomas M. (Tom) | 11/05/10-11/12/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Nye, Rep. Glenn | Dem | VA | Ross, Daniel E. (Dan) | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,509.00 |
| Price, Rep. David | Dem | NC | Hildebrand, Asher Deva | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Shuler, Rep. Heath | Dem | NC | Fishman, Julie M. | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Webb, Sen. Jim | Dem | VA | Reagan, Paul J. | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,549.00 |
Pacifica Institute / West America Turkic Council
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Coffman, Rep. Mike | Rep | CO | Mandelson, Paul Winslow | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Young, Rep. Don | Rep | AK | Raabe, Aprille C. | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Young, Rep. Don | Rep | AK | Suslavich, Jason R. | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Bass, Rep. Karen | Dem | CA | Wood, Jennifer Punsalan (Jenny) | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Filner, Rep. Bob | Dem | CA | Filner, Rep. Bob | 04/15/11-04/24/11 | $3,700.00 |
| Grijalva, Rep. Raúl | Dem | AZ | Guerrero, Bertha Alisia | 04/15/11-04/24/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Filner, Rep. Bob | Dem | CA | Filner, Rep. Bob | 12/22/10-12/31/10 | $880.00 |
Rumi Forum
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Berry, Rep. Marion | Dem | AR | Causey, Christopher Chad (Chad) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Boehner, Rep. John | Rep | OH | Herrle, Cynthia Anne (Cindy) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Coleman, Sen. Norm | Rep | MN | Navarro, Ana M. | 08/16/05-08/23/05 | $2,410.00 |
| Davis, Rep. Susan A. | Dem | CA | Hazard, William Daniel (Daniel) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Davis, Rep. Tom | Rep | VA | Bennett, Aimee Brooke (Brooke) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Fallin, Rep. Mary | Rep | OK | Weatherford, Austin Blake | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Fallin, Rep. Mary | Rep | OK | Weintz, Alexander H. (Alex) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Grijalva, Rep. Raúl | Dem | AZ | Montano, Gloria I. | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Hensarling, Rep. Jeb | Rep | TX | Buchanan, Michael Dee (Dee) | 08/16/08-08/23/08 | $3,430.00 |
| Jones, Rep. Walter B. | Rep | NC | Downs, Glen Alan | 08/16/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Kind, Rep. Ron | Dem | WI | Spaziani, Kathryn J. (Kate) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| King, Rep. Pete Rep | Rep | NY | Gundersen, Kevin | 08/16/08-08/23/08 | $3,350.00 |
| Lucas, Rep. Frank D. | Rep | OK | Scott, Margaret Nicole (Nicole) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| McCollum, Rep. Betty | Dem | MN | McCollum, Rep. Betty | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| McCollum, Rep. Betty | Dem | MN | Rashid, Lina Choudhry | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Meeks, Rep. Gregory | Dem | NY | Williams, Jihad Saleh (Saleh) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Rogers, Rep. Mike | Rep | MI | Keiser, Andrew Justin (Andy) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Royce, Rep. Ed | Rep | CA | Strupp, Hunter McLane | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Schmidt, Rep. Jean | Rep | OH | Bennett, Barry Patrick | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Tancredo, Rep. Tom | Rep | CO | Houlton, Tyler Q. | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Thompson, Rep. Bennie | Dem | MS | Pluviose-Fenton, Veronique | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,390.00 |
| Thompson, Rep. Bennie | Dem | MS | Salayandia-Darmanin, Marisela (Marisela) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,390.00 |
| Udall, Rep. Mark Emery | Dem | CO | Salazar, Alan | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Whitfield, Rep. Ed | Rep | KY | Sparkman, John Stephen | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
It is baffling that while the Rumi Forum spent at least $73,980 (and the actual value of these trips may be greater than the declared value) to pay for trips of Congressional staffers and one Congresswoman in the year 2008, nevertheless it declared on its 2008 IRS Form 990 $0 in expenses for "Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state or local public officials." Even supposing that perhaps Congressional staffers are not legally classified by the IRS as "public officials," Congresswoman Betty McCollum certainly was. The Rumi Forum also declared $0 in "lobbying" expenses.
Does the IRS truly accept that all these Congressional trips are not lobbying, but rather just "educational"? Not to mention all the other activities that politicians are invited to - seminars, conferences, dinners,...
Excerpt from Joshua Hendrick's 2009 thesis (University of Santa Cruz):
"With modest beginnings in 1999, the Rumi Forum is now a recognized Turkish lobbying organization inside the beltway. ... Far more than a cultural or religious institution, the Rumi Forum has cultivated relationships with dozens of US congressmen and senators. .... In the interests of simultaneously promoting Islam, Turkey, and GM-affiliated Turkish businesses, the Rumi Forum locates sponsors and hosts events that specifically target people of influence in the DC area and among national political representatives."
And yet the box is checked "no" on the Form 990:
The tables for the following Gulenist organizations will be added to this page soon; in the meantime they can be viewed by clicking on the links to the Legistorm website:
For Council of Turkic American Associations click here
For Istanbul Center click here
For Turkish American Federation of Midwest click here
For Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists - TUSKON click here
For Turkish Cultural Center of New York click here
For Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians click here
Note that not all Turkish organizations sponsoring Turkey trips are Gulenist. For example, the Turkish Coalition of America, which sponsors many trips, is not considered to be part of the Gulen Movement.